(A) General park rules and regulations. The following rules and regulations are hereby adopted for the governing of the activities in the various parks and recreation areas in the city unless specific restrictions exist in the following divisions.
(1) Park closing hours. Unless otherwise stated in division (B) below, park areas will close from 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. the next day.
(2) Camping. Unless otherwise stated in division (B) below, overnight camping in any park is prohibited.
(3) Littering. No littering is allowed in the parks.
(4) Hunting. No hunting is allowed in the parks.
(5) Fires.
(a) All fires. All fires must be in a designated fire area (fireplaces, rings, grills). Ground fires will be permitted during special events but only upon prior written approval by the Parks Supervisor or City Manager.
(b) Ground fires.
1. Ground fires shall be contained in an area no larger than three feet in diameter and two feet in height and shall be constantly attended by a competent person and shall be completely extinguished before being left alone.
2. A minimum clearance of 15 feet shall be maintained between any vehicle, rubbish, dry grass, weeds, vegetation and any other combustible material.
3. Buckets, shovels, water supply or a fire extinguisher with a minimum 4-A rating shall be readily available.
(6) Dogs. All dogs must be kept on a leash in the parks.
(7) Speed limit. Speed limits in all parks will be 20 mph.
(8) Alcoholic beverages. Unless otherwise stated in division (B) below, consumption of all alcoholic beverages, including beer, is prohibited after 8:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. the following day. The City Council or its designee may allow exceptions with such exceptions conveyed through a lease.
(B) Specific park rules and regulations.
(1) Rodeo Park.
(a) Park closing hours.
1. Unless otherwise stated in this division (B)(1)(a), Rodeo Park shall close from 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. the following day; provided that, if a scheduled activity is in progress at the time of closing then it may continue as permitted by the Parks Supervisor or City Manager granting the permission for the scheduled activity.
2. The designated campgrounds in Rodeo Park do not close.
(b) Alcoholic beverages. The consumption of alcoholic beverages shall be allowed in Rodeo Park from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. of the same day. The City Council or its designee may allow exceptions with such exceptions conveyed through a lease.
(c) Horses and motorized vehicles. Horses and motorized vehicles must stay on roadway surfaces or in designated parking areas in the park. Exceptions may be made for groups that show need. Permission will be conveyed by issuance of a permit by the Park Department stating date, time, location and the concerned party.
(d) Camping. Camping is only allowed in the designated campground, south of the park maintenance building at Rodeo Park, and the campground north of the arena, with the exception of one week prior to and during the annual Tri-State Rodeo.
(2) Victory Park.
(a) Alcoholic beverages. The consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in Victory Park at all times.
(b) Bicycles. No bicycles will be permitted to enter the fenced areas of Victory Park, including the tennis courts, ball field and playground area. Bicycles should not be parked on sidewalks or roadways.
(3) Riverview Park/Marina.
(a) Alcoholic beverages. The consumption of alcoholic beverages shall be allowed in Riverview Park from 6:00 a.m. to one minute after 12:01 a.m. of the next day. The City Council or its designee may allow exceptions with such exceptions conveyed through a lease.
(b) Removal of winter stored boats and trailers. Any winter stored boat or trailer not removed by April 30, shall be towed away and impounded all at the owner’s expense and may be disposed of as provided in § 9-7-13 of this code of ordinances.
(c) Illegal parking. It shall be illegal to park motor vehicles, boats or trailers, on or along Riverview Drive between 6th Street to the marina parking lot and on the north side of the roadway extending along the north side of the municipal harbor. It shall also be illegal to park on the boat ramp or adjoining area used for launching boats, being that area lying north of a line extending from the south side of the paved ramp to the water hydrant.
(d) Restricted parking. The Riverview Park main parking lot, located at the lower end of 6th Street, shall be restricted for parking for park-related activities only. No overnight parking will be permitted without permission granted by the Park Supervisor or City Manager.
(e) Watercraft, flotation devices and trailers of same.
1. General limitation on mooring time. No person shall moor a watercraft or flotation device within the confines of the Riverview marina harbor or along the entire river shoreline of Riverview Park, or in the Willow Patch access area all within the city limits, for a period longer than 48 consecutive hours, unless authorized to do so by the Parks Supervisor or City Manager.
2. General limitation on parking time of trailers. No person shall park a car or trailer, loaded or unloaded, within the confines of the parking lot adjacent to the Riverview marina harbor or in the Willow Patch access area for a period longer than 72 hours unless authorized to do so by the Parks Supervisor or City Manager.
3. Impoundment authorized. Any watercraft, flotation device, and/or trailer, together with personal property found thereon or therein, which is found to be moored or parked in violation of this subsection may, upon order of the Parks Supervisor or City Manager, be removed to a city impoundment area.
4. Penalty and costs. The owner of such impounded watercraft, flotation device or trailer shall pay a $50 fee, plus all costs of removal and storage before said owner shall be allowed to retrieve the watercraft, flotation device and/or trailer from the impoundment area. The cost of removal and storage shall be set by the city.
5. Disposal of watercraft, flotation devices, trailers and personal property. If the owner of the watercraft, flotation devices, trailers or personal property can be determined, the owner shall be notified of the removal by the city by certified mail, return receipt requested. If the owner cannot be identified, notice by one publication in one newspaper of general circulation in the area where the personal property was parked or placed is sufficient to meet all notice requirements as set out in the Code of Iowa. If the personal property has not been reclaimed by the owner within six months after notice has been effected, it may be sold by the city at public or private sale.
6. No unauthorized entry to impoundment area. It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to enter an impoundment area. It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to enter upon the premises of the municipal watercraft, flotation device, and/or trailer impoundment lot without securing written permission from the city.
7. Rules for the maintenance and operation of impoundment area. The city shall prescribe reasonable rules for the maintenance and operation of the impoundment area.
8. City not liable. Neither the city, nor its employees ,shall be liable for damages caused to any watercraft, flotation device, trailer and personal property contained thereon or therein by reason of the removal, transport, storage, delivery back or sale conducted pursuant to this section.
(4) Willow Patch Access. Parking in the Willow Patch Access recreational area is restricted to use for recreational related activities only.
(Ord. D-047, passed 11-21-2017; Ord. D-95, passed 12-20-2022)
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see Iowa Code Chapter 556B